IntrepidXJ's Adventure Blog

Saturday, November 19, 2011

On Saturday I met up with my friend Marty near Moab so that we could revisit a few rock art sites and maybe find some new ones. We met up at the Courthouse Wash trailhead so that I could get some new photos of the Courthouse Wash Panel. The last time I was here it was sunny and the direct sunlight really washed out the pictographs. Since we were there early in the morning this time, everything was still in the shadows.

Here’s a wide view of the full Courthouse Wash Panel. Unfortunately this panel was heavily vandalized in 1980, but conservation work has helped preserve and stabilize the site.

Courthouse Wash Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at some of the pictographs that stand out the most.

Courthouse Wash Panel Detail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Petroglyphs on large boulders at the base of the large pictograph panel.

Courthouse Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

After spending Saturday hiking to the Dragonfly Panel, I decided to head over to the San Rafael Swell to visit some new rock art sites. The first site I visited is actually just a little bit west of the Swell along Ivie Creek at the edge of the Wasatch Plateau. It was a little tricky finding the way up to this panel, but I did manage to make it up there.

Three red anthropomorphs and one very long snake.

Three Men and a Snake by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

These handprints and the large shield figure are located in the same alcove.

Shield & Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the three Fremont figures.

Fremont Warriors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Today I spent an awesome day hiking in a beautiful secluded canyon to some seldom-seen and exquisite rock art panels. I have been wanting to visit the Dragonfly Panel pictographs for quite a while and they did not disappoint. It’s not a large panel, but the details and uniqueness of the figures found here are just amazing!

This is a nice overview of the main portion of the Dragonfly Panel.

The Dragonfly Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the two larger anthropomorphs in the scene. There appears to be a very elongated dog, a rabbit-like figure and one other smaller zoomorph (maybe a bird?) here.

Dragonfly Twins by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Another of the larger anthropomorphs found here with a faint white one to the left.

Fringed Anthropomorph by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Saturday, October 22, 2011

I’ve wanted to return to Horseshoe Canyon and the Great Gallery all year, but I decided to put it off until October when I knew the weather would be nice and the cottonwoods would be changing colors. When I found out that my friend Lisa was trying to put together a trip there for the Flickr Rock Art Group this weekend, I marked it on my calendar. This was also the last weekend of the year that there would be a ranger guided hike into the canyon which I wanted to attend so that I could get closer to the Great Gallery.

Luckily, besides Lisa and her son, only two other people showed up for the hike which kept the group small. I probably would not have liked hanging out with a bigger group than that. I had never gone on a ranger led hike before, but I really enjoyed it and learned a few new things along the way. The ranger also pointed out a few pictographs and petroglyphs that I had missed on previous trips which was nice. It was very nice getting up close and personal with the Great Gallery at the end of the hike, too.

Our first stop was the High Gallery. Here’s an overview of the full panel.

High Gallery by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at a few interesting figures on thee right side of the High Gallery.

High Gallery Detail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On our way up the canyon we came across some calm water in Barrier Creek that made for some interesting reflection photos.

Barrier Creek Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

September 17-18, 2011

This past weekend I met up with Jim from the Rock Art group on Flickr since he was spending a week or two in Moab. Of course we went out and visited some rock art sites that he had not been to before, and he even brought me to a few sites that I had missed before.

Wrong Way!

Jim takes a photo in the wrong direction as he stands next to the Lonesome Shaman.

Antler Men

I’ve visited this faint pictograph panel with figures that appear to be wearing antlers before, but don’t think I have ever posted a photo…..so here you go…

Strange Creature

Somehow I managed to miss this petroglyph a few times in the past when I visited the Supplication Panel….probably because I never tried to actually get up near the panel.

Jim at the Supplication Panel

Jim admires the Supplication Panel up close.

Missing Detail

We made a stop at the Bartlett Panel pictographs. This figure was probably very impressive before it weathered away.

Moab Cutouts

A line of small anthropomorphs high above the Colorado River.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

One sheep with two heads. There’s a few unique sheep petroglyphs in the area.

Moab Mastodon

We also made a stop by the Moab Mastodon.

Fin Sunset

The sunlight from the setting sun reflects off of some fins in the Behind the Rocks wilderness.

Birdcage & Friends

A large anthropomorph that resembles a birdcage (or R2D2) and a couple of other unique figures.

Birdcage Alcove

A closer look at two prominent figures of the Birdcage Panel situated in a large alcove.

Rock Art Shirt

Jim showing off his rock art shirt while taking a photo of some pictographs.

Jim at the Birdcage

Jim and the Birdcage Panel for a little scale.

Anticline Overlook

Expansive view from the Anticline Overlook looking down on Hurrah Pass and towards Moab and The Portal.

Highway 128

I decided to stop and take this photo on the way home….I seem to drive this stretch of road almost weekly so I rarely stop for photos anymore.

Jeep & Fisher Towers

My Jeep, the Fisher Towers and La Sal Mountains.